This cache has been placed here to bring you to the spot where Pilot Officer John Kenneth Grahame Clifton's Hurricane P5185 crashed, having been shot down by enemy fire on 1st September 1940. His Squadron (253) was scrambled from Kenley to intercept a large formation of Do17's and Me110's. His remains were recovered and buried in St. John's Churchyard, Staplegrove, Somerset. He was 21 years of age, born in Plymouth on 20th October 1918.
He had been found by a local resident who lived in Clapper Lane. On the anniversary of his loss, 1st September 2009, a memorial cross was unveiled at the the crash site by various dignatories possibly at the instigation of the late Edward Sergison (d.2014) who was also instrumental for setting up the memorial at the end of Chickenden Lane to the Canadians and Americans who flew from the Air Landing Ground there (See our cache "Staplehurst's Finest Hour" GC2VDN8).
The cache is a small clip-lock box with log book inside a 35mm pot. Please bring a pen. It can be done as a C&D or could be part of a walk to include a number of local caches set up in the area.
Please visit www.bbm.org.uk/Clifton.htm for more information and photos of the unveiling ceremony.